Monday, July 27, 2015

I have been MIA from this blog but it's been busy round here. The Young Life office has been in full on crazy mode as we prepare to send over 100 kids to camp this summer. The 6th grade trip left this Saturday and I am so glad to have that one checked off my list. Next up this weekend is the high school camp which is going to Malibu Club in British Columbia. 60 hischoolers crossing the border is no joke, there are also two ferries involved. It's a bit like wrangling cats trying to get health forms, and parent consent and make sure everyone has some form of ID that will be acceptable on both ends of the trip so we don't have to leave anyone in Canada (I kid... but this is my nightmare).

Fortunately the Lord is in this and He know who needs to be at camp these weeks. He knows that these kids need to get away from the noise and away from their cell phones and their messy sometimes painful home life and be in a place where they can hear the truth about how loved and treasured they are by the maker of heaven and Earth. He hold it all in His hands and it's amazing how everything always seems to work out and fall in to place just right at the last minute despite all my fears. So I pray big prayers for a perfect trip and try not to worry about the 80 percent of campers who can't afford the cost and what that will mean for our area's budget, and I try not to worry about trusting kids with their birth certificates. That being said, your prayers are appreciated.

In other news my sister comes to visit me TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!

Nothing like a visitor to motivate you to check things off the to-do list. Our guest room was passable. It had a comfy bed and the lamps on the floor didn't seem to bother our parents when they came to visit.... what more do you need? It's not too big of a room so there really wasn't space for a large dresser so I wanted to find a small chest of drawers that could double as both a nightstand and a place where guests could unpack a bit when they stay over, maximizing the space.

I finally found the perfect size dresser at an antique store and I also found a small nightstand for the other side of the bed as well. Together, both pieces were under $80!! They needed a little tlc so I also picked up a can of Valspar Chalky Paint in Kid Gloves. Chalk paint is all the rage on pinterest, I know, so I was anxious to try it out for this project especially since it said little to no prep work required. I gave the two pieces a light sanding and using a cheap chip brush went to town. It only required two coats and the paint was super forgiving and easy to work with. Now most of the design blogs say to seal it with a wax. I've never worked with wax before and the guy at Lowes said that it was super tedious and really only practical if you plan on never using the piece of furniture. Wax was traditionally just for old antiques that sit on display and don't see a lot of action. Otherwise you have to watch it like a hawk and re-wax it every so often. Ain't nobody got time for that. Instead I bought a clear, water based polyurethane in a satin finish, which went on in a jiffy and still gave that matte-like finish that I was going for with the chalk paint.

Long story short, here's the before...

And here's the after:

I tried to keep a little bit of the distressed, shabby-chic feel to them but now they look fresh and clean and not so mis-matchy. I got the new drawer knobs from Hobby Lobby- they're a greenish color glass which compliments the new wall color (Sherwin Williams, Sea Salt). I'm still figuring out knicknacks for the dresser top and other things for the walls, plus curtains. And I like the idea of doing two wall sconces instead of lamps in here, especially since the dresser and nightstand are not exactly the same height (hence the two books), but overall it feels like the guest room is going to be the first room I can call finished. And it's much more ready for my sister's arrival!!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

A few months ago, T.J. and my in-laws built us a deck. Since then it's pretty much just held our grill, a small cafe table, 1 Adirondack chair (part of a set but I'd been too lazy to build the other one) and several dead plants (thanks to unusually hot weather and Hunley). We invited people over to our house for a 4th of July cookout and since I knew we'd mostly want to be outside I took this as motivation to spruce things up a bit.

For starters I finally assembled the second Adirondack and then decided to paint them both white. Then I hit up Lowes and picked up a little 2 seater and a coffee table, plus an adorable plant stand. I replaced all my dead herbs and potted plants (and vowed to be better about watering them and protecting them from the beast) and then I hit up Target and Pier 1 for pillows and cushions.

The plant stand was originally also white but since it was going to go between the two white chairs I decided to spray paint it an aqua color to tie it in with the new pillows and add another pop of color.

What's not pictured is the other side of the deck with the grill and the home for our little cafe table. I just love this little outdoor space even more now. It's so nice to sit out there and read while Hunley digs holes in the ground...actually the digging part's annoying but we're working on it and at least now I have a comfy cute spot to sit and keep my eye on him.

To make the front porch as inviting as my updated back porch, and since I was already in a crafty mood I decided to also make a new wreath for the front door. And, yes I realize the 4th of July was 2 weeks ago but this patriotic little number is still hanging on my front door so I can still blog about it! I made a rag wreath which was super tedious but super easy (3 yards of fabric cut into 1"x8"strips and then just double knotted around a wire wreath form) and I love how it turned out!

Hoping to take some of this diy decorating energy inside now. There are still so many things I want to/need to do to our home. Sometimes it's just easier to start with a smaller space, like our deck, rather than looking at every room in the house and only seeing is a giant to do list. I'll get to it all someday... hopefully before we move away.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

It's confession time. I have been having a really hard time loving my neighbor. My actual, next door, neighbor.

We've been having a bit of a turf war over our shared driveway and it has really hardened my heart towards him. I've had a very "I'm right you're wrong" attitude towards him. I've felt offended and put out every time he approaches me (when he's not ignoring my hellos). After the shock from yet another unpleasant interaction (or note left on my windshield) wears off, I usually cry and call T.J. to vent and then it just makes me want to dig in my heels even more, and sit up straighter on my high horse.

T.J., my parents, my sister, they've all heard me defend my rightness and proclaim his wrongness, and they've been on my side which only helps me to justify the line I've drawn in the sand (or down the middle of the driveway).

And I think I could keep this up for the next four years until we move away and it's no longer my problem. Except...unfortunately for my pride.... I can't ignore this niggling, nudging, tap tap tapping on my shoulder from the Lord.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; AND, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."Luke 10:27.

Dang it. There's really no way to look at that where I come out feeling good about my heart towards my neighbor. It's plain and simple, just tacked on the end there, and its convicting. How do you love God? You love His people.

I'll admit that I selfishly wanted to tell you all the details of the dispute (and a few details shamefully slipped in) so maybe you would see my side. And I had a hard time sharing about this little struggle without using sarcasm, and crossing my arms and stomping my feet in defiance, but I'm at a crossroads. I can hold my ground, not budge an inch, wrap myself up in my rightness and write him off as rude, and impossible, which would probably only convince him that I'm the one being un-neighborly.

Or I can love my neighbor, I can give him grace.

Just imagine if God crossed his arms and wrote us off as rude and impossible when we rightfully deserve it. Instead he gives me grace, humbles me, and softens me with his love.

So I can love him by not running and hiding inside every time I see my neighbor watering his lawn. I can love him by turning the other cheek, by not keeping a record of perceived wrongs, and by giving up the weak satisfaction I get from being "right." I can love him by crossing the line down the driveway and meeting him where he's at. And honestly I don't know where that is. I don't know what hard season he might be in, I don't know his heart, or his hurts but I do know that I don't want to add to them.

Appropriately enough, I got this perfectly timed package in the mail yesterday. Two words. GIVE GRACE. A reminder that grace is a gift, something you can't earn or deserve. Grace, like I've been shown by Jesus, His love, the gift of life everlasting. Bought and paid for when I was still messy and prideful and stubborn and deep in my sin. Grace we're meant to breathe in and exhale out.

Exhale. Love my neighbor. Not because I have to or because I want a pat on the back, but because it is my joy to do so. And sharing this little struggle here holds me accountable and makes it easier to act in love. It's the first Sunday school lesson and I'm still learning it in it's most basic form. I'm still in desperate need of that Grace.

**Temporary tattoo from Scarlet & Gold as part of their Give Grace Campaign: A reminder to give grace to those going through hard seasons and that by sharing our struggles we can encourage and support one other. See more about it here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

We have almost reached the end of his intern year and T.J. is about to start his
second year as an ortho resident. I am so proud. He made it through this tough
year of being the low man on the totem pole, away rotations, and a steep
learning curve. I love that even though he was probably sleep deprived,
run down, and stressed out when he walked through the door most
evenings, he was still my sweet, upbeat, easy going guy (and the cutest Dr. I know).

Second year, I've been warned, is even
harder and pretty much the worst year. The hours are longer, the overnight call will be plentiful, and
the responsibilities even heavier. But no away rotations, so... silver
lining my friends.

T.J. has been on an "away" rotation in Seattle this month. I say "away" because really Seattle isn't really that far away. But it's not right here with me and he doesn't get to come home so it actually feels very far away. This is his last away rotation until third year and while I'm bracing myself for a brutal second year, at least I'll get to have him home with me (most of the time). And even the nights when he's on call and literally residing at the hospital, at least he'll be close by. I can pop by for visits and bring him dinner and there's just something comforting about knowing he's just down the road.

But we've made the best of these away rotations and try to enjoy spending time in the city. This past weekend I popped up there (sat in 2+ hours of traffic) for a visit. T.J. was just getting off an overnight shift and managed to get in a quick nap while I was stuck in traffic but once I arrived we headed out to enjoy a sunny Seattle day.

We had the original idea to visit Golden Gardens Park. And by that I mean we were there with literally every other similarly pale north-westerner enjoying the beach. T.J. and I had visited back in January and it was definitely a different scene. It was packed! And people were actually swimming, which seemed a little premature since it wasn't exactly "hot" outside and I have a feeling the water was basically one degree above freezing. But seize the day!

We left the crowds and headed in to Fremont. We grabbed a drink outside on the patio at Fremont Brewing. They provide free pretzels to munch on and Hunley enjoyed eating the pieces off the ground and giving us puppy dog eyes with the hopes we'd share our beers with him.

We then meandered around Fremont and of course made a stop at the troll before dropping the pup off at the apartment and heading out for burgers at 8oz Burger & Company. And on our walk to the restaurant we noticed a bunch of people with pretty good looking ice cream so we made a note to grab one for ourselves after dinner. We followed the scent of waffle cones and then waited in a bit of a line at Molly Moon's. We had to sample most of their flavors and then settled on Maple Walnut for T.J. and I chose Earl Grey. It was the perfect summer date!

On Sunday I let T.J. sleep in and then we grabbed lunch and napped some more before T.J. had to head back in to the hospital and Hunley and I headed back home. The countdown to second year is on!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

My parents have sold their house and are moving South. It's a crazy and exciting time and I am looking forward to visiting them in their new house on the prettiest lake in South Carolina. Of course we've got a little ways to go since they're building it from the ground up, but I know it's going to be wonderful when they finally can settle in. They're building it with visions of a growing family in mind, making it the perfect place for my sister and I, new son-in laws, and their future grand kids, to come to and feel at home.

I like to say that South Carolina is my adopted home state. I've moved so many times and had homes all over that I don't really know what answer to give when people ask "where are you from?" So sometimes, instead of giving the long winded response, where I list off all the places I've lived and loved, the easiest thing these days seems to just claim South Carolina as home. I feel like I have a good stake there. It's where my husband was born and raised, we both went to university there, it's where we got married, my sister still lives there, I have an aunt, uncle and cousin down there, and now my parents are going to be there!! For me, that's a big part of what defines home- wherever my people are.

I never thought that when I decided to go to college in South Carolina that it would have such a long reaching impact on our family, that we would find a place where we all want to put down roots. What's even more incredibly fortunate about this move is that my parents' new house is going to be on the same lake that my in laws have a house. I love that distance between our two families is closing in. T.J. jokes that he would never have thought that the girl he fell in love with from Ohio/New Jersey/Maryland/England/DC/etc? would have a lake house just a few miles from his folks.

For us, especially living so very far away, it's going to make everything so much more convenient. A one stop shop for our favorite people. My family spent most of my childhood schlepping across the East Coast, spending big chunks of our vacations on long car trips to see our family spread far and wide. I loved it because that's all I knew, that's what we did. I don't know what it's like to have grandparents down the road from us. But maybe my kids will. T.J. and I hope to end up back in South Carolina when we're done with his Army commitment. To think I might get to raise my family just a short drive away from my folks, and his folks, makes my heart want to explode. What an absolute joy that will be.

My dad posted this picture of their home in New Jersey, now empty and soon to be in the hands of another family. And I felt a lump in my throat. It's the house they moved to when they returned from the UK. I didn't expect to feel sad like I did with every other house we've said goodbye to because technically I never actually lived there. But my parents have a way of creating a cozy sanctuary where my sister and I can return to and it always feels like home. I have a lot of wonderful memories in that house, roasting marshmallows in the fire pit, hiking in the woods in the backyard, snuggled up on the couch, sipping tea in the sun room, the way it looked covered in snow or surrounded by golden leaves in the fall. So while I'm so excited for their move to the South, this goodbye feels bittersweet.

But if I've learned anything over the years I've spent defining what home means to me, in different states and countries, it's that my heart has room. It grows and makes space each time for a new place, a new house, new memories. I can't wait to see what wonderful surprises this new home, that my parents are lovingly building from the ground up, will hold for our family.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Yesterday I turned 27! More thoughts on that number in a later post....

It was a beautiful day in the PNW and T.J. and I had a low key Sunday afternoon together before he headed in to work for an overnight shift. He's working up in Seattle this month which means I don't get to see him during the week but I was glad he had the weekend off.

Friday evening on his way home from the city T.J. called and informed me that we were going to brunch Saturday morning and we needed to bring hash browns. Hah. Don't you just love those calls? Anywho, I might give him a hard time but I don't mind and it gave me a chance to make yummy hashbrown casserole, so much better than plain old hash browns, to share with all our friends unfamiliar with Cracker Barrel. (p.s. if you try this recipe, I don't use all the soup mixture because I don't like it to be too runny. I like a more solid spoonful and the frozen hash browns release water when they're cooking anyway)

Saturday morning. hasbrown casserole in tow, we headed to the house of a fellow resident for brunch. I love that they often try to have breakfast together on the weekends. Sometimes it's at someone's house, other times they meet up a diner near the hospital. Even the guys on call that day try to sneak away to join up for a bite. Spouses and kids are included and it makes the weekend shifts not so bad. plus it's just fun to have fellowship time together with people in your same situation.

I love these get-togethers and this one was especially fun because the new incoming interns and their families were invited.

After brunch we headed home to relax before we had to get ready for the graduation banquet that night. There aren't too many occasions to get dressed up for during year so I used this as an excuse to get a new dress and shoes. Plus it's my birthday.

The banquet was a fun night. Dinner and drinks and a celebration of the graduating class. It's crazy to think that T.J. is almost done with his first year of residency. We're no longer new at this thing, although I'v heard second year is a whole 'nother roller coaster. Listening to the stories of the departing residents and their families, and imagining what life will look like for us when we're in their position 4 years from now, is wild!

Sunday morning I woke up early to take the dog out per usual and then got back in bed to sleep in a little longer. When I woke up for good I found T.J. downstairs with a birthday card and my favorite donuts. We took Hunley for a good long walk and then settled in for a family nap since T.J. had to work overnight. T.J. had to head back to Seattle around 3 and then it was just me and Hunley again. It was definitely a more low key birthday than years past but I'm just glad I to spend time with my husband, that he was able to get off work for even just a short weekend at home. We have a lot more long work days, and overnight calls, and away rotations, and crazy hours in the years to come, so I don't want to take for granted any minute we get to have together.

I did get one more fun birthday treat in the form of my wedding video!! We have been waiting (not so) patiently to see the final product and finally getting it on my birthday was perfect timing. It was definitely worth the wait. I've probably watched it a dozen times already. I just love reliving that perfect day.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

One of my favorite things to do when I go visit my parents is put an old vhs in and watch old home movies. My sister and I have our favorite tapes and favorite moments on each and we've watched them so many times that we can quote our little childhood selves. I love seeing my parents as newlyweds and first time parents. I love seeing my dad with a mustache and my mom with a ponytail and a stylish eighties sweatsuit. I love that you can't count the number of times my dad says "tell me you love me" or asks "what time is it?" to which we reply "love you daddy" and "football time in Tennessee" respectively.

I love that these moments are preserved on video. It's something I really treasure and wish I had more of. I want that for T.J. and I, for our future kids and grandkids to watch one day and laugh at our dated clothes and exclaim how young we look. It's also why I blog. Oh how I wish I could read my mom's thoughts from when she was in college, and then a newlywed, and a new mom.

So along those lines...I've been bugging T.J. and saying we should get a GoPro to document all our new adventures. That guy, he loves me so! The day before our trip to Oregon he came home from work and surprised me with an early birthday present!

I need to practice and figure out all the ins and outs of how to work it, so forgive me it's a little shaky, but I love watching it and reliving all our waterfall (and puppy) chasing fun. I hope this is just the start of our home movie collection.

*p.s. it's eight minutes long, so if you're not our immediate family, you're not obligated to watch the whole thing.

My Mother's Daughter
-
A lot of my students this week were asking me who invented Mother's Day,
why we have it and the biggest question was why there isn't a kids day. I
respond...

Sweet Followers

The Nitty Gritty

I'm so glad you dropped by! Most photography that you see here is my own, unless otherwise credited. If you’d like to use content from this site, I'd be delighted! Just be sure and link back here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Inappropriate comments - spam, offensive language, etc. will be deleted.